Container Identification Apparatus and Method

ABSTRACT

Provided is a container identification apparatus and method having a receptacle with an enclosed interior volume and an open upper that includes a first indicia disposed on the exterior thereof. A lid having a second indicia disposed on the exterior thereof is provided, wherein the second indicia corresponds, matches and/or is associated with the first indicia of the receptacle and enables the user to place the correctly fitting lid onto the particular receptacle with which it is meant to be used, straight away. The first indicia and the second indicia can be a variety of characters, figures, patterns, objects and/or items. The user can place foodstuffs or other objects within the receptacle and thereafter can easily locate and identify the rightful lid via viewing the second indicia on the lid and recognizing the association between the first indicia disposed on the receptacle and the second indicia disposed on the lid.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/971,630 filed on Mar. 28, 2014, entitled “Container IdentificationApparatus and Method.” The above identified patent application is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity ofdisclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to containers having identificationsystems, wherein the containers are commonly used for the heating offood, food storage, and transportation thereof. Specifically, thepresent invention relates to a container identification system having alid and receptacle that enables users to readily identify the correctlyfitting lid for a particular receptacle via viewing associating,corresponding and/or matching indicia disposed on both the exterior ofthe lid and the receptacle.

Conventional methods of storing food or other objects involve the use ofcontainers having lids and receptacles, however much time can be spenttrying to decipher which lid coincides with a specific receptacle viarepeatedly placing different lids onto the receptacle only to find itdoes not readily fit thereon. Frustration and a waste of time result,and one can only cease the above-described repetitive process after thecorrectly fitting lid is found. Moreover, it can be difficult todistinguish the contents that one has placed into a container,especially if such contents are not readily identifiable.

More practical classes of storage containers offer an identificationsystem that can be color coded in order to enable a user to identify thecontents and/or the status or properties of the contents therein such astaste, level of preparedness and the like. Still, such containers do notprovide indicia that enable the user to quickly identify the lid thatrightly fits onto a particular receptacle in order to avoid having tosearch for the rightly fitting lid and wasting an unnecessary amount oftime.

Other container systems relate to beverage bottles and caps, wherein thebottle caps are color coded in order to be indicative of the user ofeach of the bottles. While this is helpful in the way of differentiatingusers of identical drinking bottles, it is not useful for identifyingparticular lids that rightly fit onto particular receptacles regardingcontainers, such as food storage containers.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a new and improvedcontainer identification apparatus and method incorporating a receptacleand a lid, wherein the receptacle provides a first indicia disposedthereon and the lid provides a second indicia disposed thereon.Specifically, the present invention provides a coinciding lid andreceptacle, wherein the first indicia of the receptacle matches,corresponds and/or associates with the second indicia of the lid inorder to enable the user to quickly, easily and readily identify whichlid rightly fits onto a particular container via viewing and identifyingthe indicia and matching the first and second indicia with one another.Moreover, the first indicia and the second indicia can include figures,characters, and patterns.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to containeridentification systems. These include devices that have been patentedand published in patent application publications. These devicesgenerally relate to containers for food or beverage bottles havingindicia thereon for identification purposes. The following is a list ofdevices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are hereindescribed for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating theunique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting thedrawbacks existing in the prior art.

Specifically U.S. Pat. No. 20,100,072,099 to Klein discloses a colorcoded identification system for a pack of a plurality of foodcontainers. The device includes a container portion and a lid, whereinthe container provides a first color indicia and the lid provides asecond color indicia. Further, the rim of the lid provides a third colorindicia in order to allow the user to identify and distinguish thecontents therein. This device however, does not provide for a containersystem having matching and/or associated pictures, characters and/orobjects.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,505 to Moran provides for beverage bottles havingcolor coded beverage caps. The caps provide non-verbal indiciaindicating the identity of the user. The device allows the user to forgohaving to write on the bottle or other surface thereon in order toidentify the owner of the particular bottle. This device however, doesnot provide indicia indicating which cap matches with which bottle anddoes not include corresponding indicia on the bottle indicative of thematching cap.

U.S. Pat. No. 20,130,125,430 to Whittemore describes an identificationdevice for a container, such as a bottle in order to indicate whichparticular consumer is using it. The device includes identificationindicia on the outer surface of the device. Still, the described devicedoes not include indicia in the form of characters I order to enable theuser to correctly associate matching indicia with one another.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,240 to Goodwin allows for a method and containerapparatus having complementary indicia, wherein a first indicia islocated on a closure means and a second indicia is located on an area ofthe container. Still, this device is helpful n the way of encouragingusers to return a beverage bottle for the recycling thereof and provideslittle help in enabling a user to match a container with a containerlid.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,573 to Fuerstman provides a package identificationsystem for identifying the individual containers of a consumer pack ofbeverage containers, wherein each container bears a first indiciaidentical with the other containers in the pack so that a user mayeasily differentiate his container from the containers of the set. Thepresent invention however, enables users to distinguish lids from thelids of another container and allow users to find the correct lid for aparticular container.

These prior art devices have several known drawbacks. The abovediscussed container systems do not provide for a containeridentification system having a lid and receptacle that enables users toreadily identify the rightly fitting lid for a particular receptacle viaviewing and identifying associating, corresponding and/or matching firstindicia and second indicia disposed on both the exterior of the lid andon the receptacle.

The present invention substantially diverges in design elements from theprior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the artfor an improvement to existing container identification systems anddevices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfillsthese needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofcontainer identification systems now present in the prior art, thepresent invention provides a new container identification system whereinthe same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user whenstoring food and other items and distinguishing between various assortedlids and containers.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved container identification apparatus and method that has all ofthe advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a containeridentification apparatus and method having corresponding indicia betweena lid and container that is readily identifiable and matching.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a containeridentification apparatus and method that can be utilized as foreducational purposes for children.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a containeridentification apparatus and method having a receptacle with a firstindicia thereon.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a containeridentification apparatus and method having a lid with a second indiciathereon.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a containeridentification apparatus and method wherein the user can match the lidwith the receptacle via the indicia thereon.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a containeridentification apparatus and method having a receptacle that can be usedfor food storage.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and mannerin which it may be made and used may be better understood after a reviewof the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a view of the container identification apparatus and methodhaving a corresponding and/or matching first indicia and a secondindicia disposed on the lid and receptacle.

FIG. 2 shows a view of the container identification apparatus and methodhaving a corresponding and/or matching first indicia and a secondindicia disposed on the lid and receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like referencenumerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similarelements of the identification container apparatus and method. For thepurposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the presentinvention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used forplacing food within the receptacle and sealing it with a correspondinglid, wherein the user can quickly identify the corresponding lid viaindicia thereon. The figures are intended for representative purposesonly and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a view of the containeridentification apparatus 1 having a container that includes a receptacle2 and a lid 3, wherein the receptacle 2 and lid has an exterior and aninterior. The container identification apparatus 1 comprises areceptacle 2 of having a first wall, a second wall, a third wall afourth wall and a fifth wall, wherein the first wall, second wall, thirdwall and fourth wall provides a first side, a second side, side edges, atop edge and a bottom edge. The first side of each of the wallsdescribed above constitutes the exterior and the second side of each ofthe walls described above constitutes the interior.

The side edges of the first wall, second wall, third wall and fourthwall are connected to one another, respectively, wherein the bottom edgeof the first wall, second wall, third wall, and fourth wall is connectedto the first side of the fifth wall thus forming one unitary body andthus the receptacle 2 of the container identification apparatus havingan enclosed interior volume and an open upper. The fifth wall of thereceptacle forms the base thereof, wherein the connection between thefirst side of the base of the receptacle and the bottom edge of thewalls described above forms curved or rounded edges.

The open upper of the receptacle provides an outer perimeter comprisinga lip 6 that extends therearound and forms a space between the lip 6 andthe top edge of the first wall, second wall, third wall, and fourthwall, wherein the user can place his or her fingers in the formed spaceand grip the lip 6 to transport and/or maneuver the receptacle whenneeded. The lid 3 of the container identification apparatus 1 comprisesa first side and second side, wherein the first side provides aperimeter having a recessed groove (not shown) that coincides with thelip 6 of the receptacle and can be placed thereover, whereby the lip 6can fit into the recessed groove thus sealing and securing the contentsplaced inside of the receptacle 2 of the container identificationapparatus 1. The first side of the lid 3 constitutes the interior, whilethe second side of the lid 3 constitutes the exterior. The containeridentification apparatus 1 provides an air tight and water tight seal inorder to secure the contents therein, wherein the contents can includefoodstuffs and/or other items.

The receptacle 2 of the container identification apparatus 1 provides afirst indicia 5 on the second side of the walls and thus on the exteriorthereof and a second indicia 4 on the second side of the lid 3 and thusthe exterior thereof, wherein the first indicia 5 and the second indicia4 correspond with, match, or relate to one another in order to providean identification method for the user. The container identificationapparatus 1 can be cube shaped in a preferred embodiment, however thecontainer identification apparatus 1 is not limited to such a structureand can comprise a rectangular prism shape and can vary in width, depth,height and length in alternative embodiments.

Each container identification apparatus 1 embodiment provides a matchingand/or specific lid 3, thus the first indicia 5 and second indicia 4allow the user to correctly identify which lid 3 properly coincidesand/or fits onto which receptacle 2 or vice versa. The first indicia 5of the receptacle 2 can be various characters, patterns, figures, andobjects such as a monkey, a palm tree, bird, mouse, elephant, and/orother suitable characters. Likewise, the second indicia 4 disposed onthe lid 3 includes corresponding, associated and/or matching characters,patterns, figures, and objects such as a banana, coconut, palm tree,egg, cheese, elephant, and/or other suitable characters.

FIG. 2 shows a view of the container identification apparatus 1 andmethod having a corresponding and/or matching first indicia 5 and secondindicia 4, wherein the first indicia 5 is disposed on the exterior ofthe receptacle 2 and the second indicia 4 is disposed on the exterior ofthe lid 3. The container identification apparatus 1 and method providesvarious embodiments as described above, wherein each containerembodiment includes a receptacle 2 and a lid 3 whereby the variouscontainer embodiments can be placed in a stacked fashion, whereby onereceptacle 2 can be placed on top of the lid 3 of another receptacle,respectively and can be easily stored in a cabinet, drawer and the like.

The receptacle 2, as described above, comprises a first wall, a secondwall a third wall, a fourth wall and a fifth wall also known as thebase, wherein at least one of the described walls provides a firstindicia thereon. In a preferred embodiment, a first indicia 5 isdisposed on two opposing walls in order to enable the user to readilyidentify the first indicia 5 without having to continually and manuallyrotate the receptacle 2 to view the first indicia 5 disposed thereon.The container identification apparatus 1 can be made from a food gradematerial such as polyethylene, polypropylene, thermoplastic, highdensity polypropylene, low density polyethylene, glass and/or othersuitable materials. Additionally, the material from which the containeridentification apparatus is constructed is one that is microwave,refrigerator, freezer and/or dishwasher compatible.

Further, the container identification apparatus can be made in variouscolors such as green, orange, red, blue, purple and/or other suitablecolors, wherein the first indicia and second indicia can be variouscolors. In a preferred embodiment, the container identificationapparatus is a clear plastic, wherein the first indicia and the secondindicia are made in colors that are conducive to the figure, pattern,and character disposed thereon.

In use, the user can place foodstuffs and/or other objects and itemsinto the interior volume of the receptacle 2 having a first indicia 5thereon and can proceed to finding and/or locating the lid 3 thatcorrectly fits onto the particular receptacle 2 via viewing the firstindicia 5 thereon and placing the lid 3 having a corresponding,associated and/or matching second indicia 4 thereon onto the lip 6 ofthe receptacle 2 to which it rightly fits. For example, the user canplace a food item into the receptacle 2 having the first indicia 5disposed thereon, wherein the first indicia 5 is a monkey (as shown).Thereafter, the user can straight away located the correct lid 3 havingthe corresponding second indicia 4 disposed thereon, wherein the secondindicia 4 is a banana (as shown) and thus constitutes the correspondingand rightly fitting lid 3 for the receptacle 2 in this example, wherebya monkey is commonly and/or traditionally associated with a banana.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown anddescribed in what is considered to be the most practical and preferredembodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be madewithin the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications willoccur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the abovedescription then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations insize, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assemblyand use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in theart, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification are intended to beencompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim: 1) A container identification apparatus, comprising: areceptacle, wherein said receptacle comprises at least one wall having afirst indicia disposed thereon; a lid, said lid having a perimeter, afirst side and a second side, said second side having a second indiciadisposed thereon, wherein said second indicia corresponds, associates ormatches with said first indicia of said receptacle; said perimeter ofsaid lid having a recessed groove, said recessed groove fitting over topof said lip of said open upper of said receptacle forming a watertightand airtight closure; 2) The container identification apparatus of claim1, wherein said lid and said receptacle is composed of a rigid material.3) The container identification apparatus of claim 1, said rigidmaterial being a food grade material, said food grade material beingpolyethylene. 4) The container identification apparatus of claim 2,wherein said rigid material is a food grade material, said food gradematerial being polypropylene. 5) The container identification apparatusof claim 2, wherein said rigid material is a food grade material, saidfood grade material being glass. 6) The container identificationapparatus of claim 2, wherein said rigid material is of said containeridentification apparatus is microwave compatible. 7) The containeridentification apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rigid material is ofsaid container identification apparatus is dishwasher compatible. 8) Thecontainer identification apparatus of claim 2, wherein said rigidmaterial is of said container identification apparatus is freezercompatible. 9) The container identification apparatus of claim 2,wherein said rigid material is refrigerator compatible. 10) A method ofproducing containers with lids, whereby matching the lid to thecontainer when separated is facilitated, comprising the steps of:providing a container and a lid, said lid and said container being ofcorresponding size and connectable to form a sealed interior; providinga container and a lid, lacing contents into said interior volume of saidreceptacle having said open upper; identifying said first indicia onsaid receptacle; identifying corresponding, associating and/or matchingsaid second indicia on said lid, wherein said second indicia of said lidcorresponds, associates or matches with said first indicia of saidreceptacle; placing said recessed groove of said lid having saidcorresponding, associating and/or matching said second indicia onto saidlip of said receptacle having said corresponding, associating and/ormatching said second indicia with said first indicia to seal saidcontents placed into said interior volume of said receptacle.